Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-26

1
Gambler Of the United Statess
| From the Detroit Tribune.
A colored man stood in the front door at Whit
ney's opera house yesterday afternoon, gazing alb
sently at threesheet poster on the stand In front
| OF the theater. He formed altogether remark
able picture and one that was duplicated upon
the bill board. closely clipped beard covered his
face. magnificent sealskin overcoat, reaching
nearly to the heels was carelessly thrown open In
front. The diamonds that blazed from his shirt
bosom and fingers were as large as the eyes OF the
street gamins who stood gaping at the man in the
doorway. The man, too had eyes piercing and
restless. He wore silk hat and carried gold
Two men passed by the theater. '.say, look at
week. ~
yes" replied the other
"That fellow is the star Of the company, meb-
"No, he's the manager. The company is not a
''Please give me this with discretion. Colored
man run a minstrel show? Amt that little
"Maybe, but it is fact His name is Alexander
John Alexander-one OF the best known and
cleyerest men In his line in America. Some call
MIN Alexander the Great. Others the Black Prince.
same"
Theatrical MANI"
"Gambler mainly, theatrical somewhat"
Mr. Alexander was found behind the scenes at
Whitneys In the evening. He was smoking fra
card on the wall that prohibited the use Of tobacco
GLOW did become a gambler" laughed Mr.
Alexander. why, my boy, was born one. Now
you might like to know Just where was born.
Well. came TO life ifteen miles below Cincinnati,
on PRESIDENT William Henry Harrisons planta-
! ton. used to match pennies with the Harri-
son youngsters, and there first discovered my
fortune In risks. Later on became a cabin boy
on New orleans packet steamer. Everybody
CANDLES on Mississippi river boats. was no ex-
cepllon; MY good fortune continued, and when
we leacned cincinnati on one OF our trips found
mad $50 clear left the river and started a small
gambling room for the benefit Of people of my own
race was getting along finely until one day a
5000 to me. Then I bushwhacked about the
country lot time in rather impecuniOus con-
dit1on When could earn dollar played the
Dank sometimes had hundreds and occasion
ally thousands, and lost it all the next day.
'One night cleaned up 81, 200 in Cincinnati
an estaDllshment for myself. A crowd followed
me up from Cincinnati to break me. 1 got $1,000
from Cincinnati friend, now Detroit sporting
man. 10 help me out. We had it hot and heavy,
but came out $4,000 winner afterward started
second bank In Columbus, and both are running
now"
''IIow do you play?"
'Only big nInits-s1OO, $780, or $500 to call q
card Detroit banks play s25 limits, but it is mere
made =, nr pdg sdch hs game nave Always
clean out the bank or myself. That's the only true
way TO gamble. My advice to any one who engages
decent pile.
"Have ever broken banks? Only one or two
hundred. have played the highest game ever
performed in this country-cal-card faro for
$1,000 crack. Remember, this was not q cOmbi-
hatlon arrangement. simply played my money
atone My largest cleanlngS have been in Sara
toga, Long Branch and Chicago. In Saratoga a
lie" years ago broke bank for $4,000 That
was the largest bank ever broke though have
made more money that that at one sitting"
'What DO you think OF the career OF Il gambler"
Mine out Of ten die poor men. l have known
OF few who stopped playing when they had
something, but the rule Is the reverse. The fasc-
hatioh Is something 1ndeScribable There Is no
use IN man gambling In light gaines. The
Principe Is To make or lose. Have SuperStftions?
Inc only thing that Induced me to enter the
Theatrical business was that might divert my at
ten,lon from the gaming table. l am using the
MINISTRIES only as an experiment. Ii l like the
/ business shall enter into legitimate management
ana speculation. am coming here next summer
10 cnflSten TIE new trotting association. bet on
races; bet on anything and everything that in
VittS chance Tor making money"
MI. Alexander has received invitations from To-
day morning ne walked into Howard's place He
pulled out handful OF change from his trousers
pockets and bought u small stack of chips. Soon
Alexander had so on his end Of the table. A min
ute after 1t was $40, when he began playing Il
double game-Jhat Is against the blonde gentem N
anu the bank. He would copper for $50 every play
OF the oaHk ana the little man standing against
MIN. ii took more than two factors to beat the
BLACK Prince" Luck began to turn against the
caslilng In $3.50 in chips Alexander, smiling and
good paturtd, wrtstled with the tiger alone
lie proved L good athlete and cost the Bengal
$1,000.